As an expat American living in France, there are some things culinary from home I truly miss. A good burrito for example, or real barbecue. Another on my list for so long was New York-style cheesecake. So I made it my mission to recreate it here in France, and finding the substitute for American cream cheese was the key. One day by chance I discovered "Caprice des Anges" and I was on my way. When I found a graham cracker substitute, I was there.

For the crust:
Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees (160 degrees C). Combine graham cracker crumbs and sugar in medium bowl; add 5 tablespoons melted butter and toss with fork until evenly moistened. Brush bottom and sides of 9-inch springform pan with the remaining melted butter. Empty crumbs into springform pan and press evenly into pan bottom using the flat bottom of a quarter-cup measuring cup.

For the cheesecake filling:
In stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat Caprice des Anges cheese at low speed to break up and soften slightly, Less than1 minute. Scrape beater and bottom and sides of bowl well with rubber spatula; add salt, corn starch and about half of sugar and beat at low speed until combined, about a minute. Scrape bowl; beat in remaining sugar until combined. Scrape bowl; add crème fraiche, lemon juice, and vanilla, and beat at low speed until combined, about 1 minute all total. Scrape bowl; add eggs one at a time and beat at low speed until thoroughly combined. Scrape bowl after each egg is added. The goal is to accomplish this in little time, at low speed, so you don’t beat too much air into the mixture, which causes it to rise too much.

*The cake should be set except in the center, where it should wiggle. It will continue to cook out of the oven. Do not overbake, or it will crack. Even if it’s done perfectly, it may still crack, in which case, you can cover it with with fresh fruit or fruit conserves.

It is so funny, because I have been trying to buy McVitie's digestive biscuits here in the U.S. and I can only find them covered with chocolate, which for me is unacceptable. I bet they would make a good graham cracker crust.